Feed device for an automatic wire handling device



Sept. 14, 1965 L. A. NETTA 3,206,065

FEED DEVICE FOR AN AUTOMATIC WIRE HANDLING DEVICE 'Filed Feb. 10, 1964 Tic 1.

f; T' w- INVENTOR. LOU/6 A. /V774 United States Patent 3,206,055 FEED DEVEQE FUR AN AUTOMATEC WERE HANDLE-lint; DEVICE Louis A. Netta, North Brunswick, N3 assignor to The Thomas & Betts Company, incorporated, Elizabeth,

Ni, a corporation of New .lersey Filed lFeb. 1-9, 1964, Ser. No. 343,766 12 (Zlaims. (Cl, 2212tl1) The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for separating individual wires from a bundle of wires in order that such wires may be individually presented to the rotating drum in a device of the character described in co-pending application Serial No. 287,881. More particularly, the device of this invention involves means for agitating a bundle of prepared wires and insuring positive feed of individual wires into the channel between a segregating wheel and the lower portion of the hopper in which such wires are placed.

In the device described in the aforementioned co-pending application, it was found that because of the bent, warped or entangled condition of the individual Wires as they existed in the bundle of Wires placed in the hopper of the automatic wire handling device, there was considerable difliculty in insuring a fee-d of an individual wire each time a slot of the feed drum was presented at the point at the exit end of the channel between the segregatmg wheel and the bottom of the hopper.

The object of this invention is to insure positive feed by segregating an individual wire from the bundle or a mass of wires for positioning in a channel in order that it may be properly positioned to be picked up by the rotating feed drum of an automatic wire handling device of the type described in the aforementioned co-pending application.

It is a further object of this invention to provide for means in association with a hopper carrying a bundle of prepared wires, including a driven auxiliary shaft on which are mounted jog wheels which on rotation agitate the bundle of wires through frictional contact therewith to positively segregate individual wires from the bundle of wires.

With these and other objects and advantages which are described below in mind, the improvement device of this invention is first described generally here and then in detail below.

In the device described in the aforementioned co-pending application, .gravity alone is relied upon in order to insure that Wires are in the position necessary in order for them to be carried by a segregating wheel into position so that they may be picked up as the feed drum rotates. While this method is generally satisfactory, it has been found that the device of this invention more positively segregates individual wires, and accordingly, more positively provides for the feeding of individual wires to the rotating feed drum. An adjustable dividing Wall is provided in the hopper at a point along its length depending upon the length of wires that are being fed. At a point between the dividing wall and the inner end of the feed drum, a driving wheel is positioned so that it will be rotated by the rotation of the feed drum. A longitudinal shaft is provided which is mounted on the side wall of the hopper of the automatic wire handling device. At a point on the shaft opposite the driving wheel, a driven wheel is attached to the longitudinal shaft. Slots are milled in the wall of the hopper and the channel portion thereof, and one or more jog wheels at tached to the longitudinal shaft are positioned so that their inner periphery extends for a slight distance into the hopper itself. The position of the job Wheel or wheels is such that the space between the outer periphery of the segregating wheel and the inner periphery of the jog wheels is the same as or slightly less than the thickness of one wire. As described in the aforementioned co-pending application, the segregating wheel is driven preferably by frictional contact between its periphery and the feed drum. Accordingly, rotation of the feed drum as it indexes will cause rotation of both the segregating wheel and counterrotation of the jog wheels Preferably two jog wheels are positioned so that the segregating wheel is positioned midway between them. The rotation of the feed drum, and hence rotation of the segregating wheel and job wheels, causes co-operation between the jog wheels and the segregating wheel and causes an agitation of the bundle of wires such as to tend to segregate the Wires positively and, in addition, feeds the individual wires between their peripheries into the slot between the periphery of the segregating wheel and the lower portion of the hopper.

Having thus generally described the prevent invention and with the above objects, features and advantages in mind, the device of this invention will be better understood by considering the description of elements set forth below along with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an automatic wire handling device embodying the improvement of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view in partial section illustrating the device shown in FIG. 1 taken on the line 22 of FIG.1; and

'FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the device illustrated in FIG. 2 taken on the line 3-3 of FIG.2.

In the device illustrated in the figures, only so much of the automatic wire handling unit 8 described in c0- pending application Serial No. 287,881 is included as is necessary to explain the function of the improvement which is the subject matter of his application. It will be seen that there is a hopper 10 into which a bundle of prepared wires '12 has been placed. The segregating Wheel 14, in co-operation with the lower portion 16 of the hopper 1t), segregates wires 12 from the bundle and positions them for pick-up by feed drum 18. The slots 2i) in feed drum 18, as they are indexed passed the exit point in the channel 22 between hopper portion 16 and segregating wheel 14, present a space into which individual wires 12 may enter to be picked up by feed drum 18. Continued rotation of feed drum 18 carries the wires 12 under shroud 24 in order that the length of the individual wires 12 will be wiped into position within slots 29. A pro-positioning driven Wheel 26, in co-operation with idler roller 28, feeds the wires 12 forward until they abut the front wall 30 of automatic wire handling unit 8. Continued indexing of the feed drum 22 carries the wires 12 to the terminal attaching position 32 where driven feed wheel 34, in co-operation with idler roller 36, drives the wire along a longitudinal path into the tenninal attaching unit (not shown).

In the system described in the aforementioned copending application, it was found that wires in a bundle positioned in hopper 14) would not always be properly segregated and positioned for pick-up by the slots 29 and the feed drum 18. Even though the segrating wheel 14 is frictionally driven or driven by a separate driving motor or flexible shaft, it was found that the gravity feed relied upon was not sufficient to insure a constant supply of individual wires 12 to the feed drum 18. Accordingly, the improvement of this invention was developed.

The improvement involved here comprises the following elements: a driving wheel 38 rotatably mounted on arm 3? by means of shaft 40. Arm 39 is journalled on a shaft 41 carried by the front wall 30 of the hopper 10. The driving wheel 33 is urged into frictional engagement with the periphery of the feed drum 18 by means of spring 42. Resilient brackets 44 and 45 mounted on the side follows.

wall 46 of hopper 10 rotatably mount a shaft 43 which is positioned so as to be-substantially parallel to the axis about which the feed drum 18 rotates. Adjustable screws 47, threaded in brackets 48 mounted on wall 46, provide for adjustable positioning of shaft 43 and wheels 49 and 50 mounted thereon. Driven wheel 49 is carried on shaft 43 at the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and is rigidly attached to shaft 43. Accordingly, the rotation of driving wheel 38, because of its frictional contact with the periphery of feed drum 18, will cause rotation of shaft 43, since driven wheel 49 is rigidly attached thereto. As illustrated in the figures, the feed drum rotates counterclockwise, and accordingly, the driving wheel 38 will rotate clockwise, and the transfer of motion to driven wheel 49 will result in its rotating in a counterclockwise direction.

In the preferred embodiment shown, jog wheels 50 are attached to the portion of shaft 43 as illustrated in FIG. 2

so as to result in their being positioned on either side of the segregating wheel 14. Slots 52, 54, respectively cut through the side wall 46 of hopper 10 and the hopper portion 16, permit the outer periphery of jog wheels 5% to extend slightly into the lower portion of hopper it).

The vertical position of the shaft 43, and accordingly, the position of jog wheels 50 are above the axis about which the segregating wheel 14 rotates.

In operation, the improvement of this invention is as As feed drum 18 is indexed by the linkage 56, which connects it to the ram 58 of the terminal attaching device, both the driving Wheel 38 and segregating wheel 14 are caused to rotate clockwise. The jog wheels, since they are driven by shaft 43, which is in turn driven by driven wheel 49, rotate counterclockwise. The peripheries of jog wheels 5t), since they are within the lower portion 16 of hopper 10, agitate or rub against wires 12 causing them to be forced into the space 60 between the peripheries of jog wheels 50 and segregating wheel 14. Since the space 60 is substantially the same as the thickness of a single wire 12, or perhaps slightly less, individual wires 12 are separated from the bundle of wires and are forced through space 60 into channel 22. The agitation of the bundle of wires 12 caused by jog wheels 50 permits a continuous feed of individual wires 12 in a manner considerably more consistent and reliable than was the case in the device described in the aforementioned co-pending application, which relied on gravity. The entaglement in the bundle of individual wires 12 with each other often prevented proper feed of wires 12 to feed drum 18, but with the improvement of this application, such entanglement does not prevent there being a constant supply available at the exit point of channel 22 so that, for each slot 20 in feed drum 18, an individual wire 12 can be picked up as the slot Ztl is indexed past the exit point of channel 22.

By providing for adjustable positioning of shaft 43 and jog wheels 50 by means of adjustable screws 47 bearing on resilient brackets 44 and 45, the width of space 6% may be varied to accommodate different thicknesses of Wires.

The rear wall 30 of hopper it) is shown as being fixed. In order to accommodate varying lengths of wires, it has been found that a dividing wall 62 should be positioned within hopper 1% so that it is adjustable along the axis of rotating feed drum 1%. While this feature is not essential, it is preferable, since the device should be capable of handling a variety of lengths of wires 12.

It can be seen from the above description that the im provement of this invention insures a constant supply of wires 12 for pick-up by slots 20 in feed drum 18. Entanglement of wires 12 in a bundle placed in hopper Ill will be overcome by the agitating influence of jog wheels 56) at the point in hopper where segregation must occur for proper feeding into slots 29. The co-operation between jog wheels 56 and segregating wheel 14 will insure that the channel 22 is kept full of individual wires 4 with at least the portion of individual wires 12 which is to be fed to slot Zil being held fixed at the point of entry into channel 22 so that, despite entanglement, the wires 12 will be segregated and properly positioned in channel 22.

The remainder of the length of wires 12 will be properly positioned within slots 29 as the feed drum is indexes beyond'pick-up point at the exit of channel 22 by virtue of the operation of shroud 24, as described in the aforementioned copending application.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the shaft 43 is driven by the co-operation between driving wheel 33 in frictional engagement with feed drum 18 and the engagement between driving wheel 38 and driven wheel 49. It will be appreciated that shaft 43 could, if it is desirable, be driven separately by power means and that, accordingly, both driving wheel 38 and driven wheel 49 would not be needed.

While the improvement device illustrated and described represents a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that mechanical equivalents can be employed without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

ll. In an automatic wire handling device of the character described which includes hopper means for carrying a bundle of wires, segregating means positioned at the bottom of said hopper, a rotary feed drum means having slots formed therein for carrying individual wires to a terminal attaching means, the improvement which comprises a shaft positioned so as to rotate about an axis parallel to the axis of said feed drum, a driving wheel rotatably mounted on the rear wall of said hopper and driven by said drum, a driven wheel carried on said shaft and driven by said driving wheel, at least one jog wheel carried on said shaft at a position substantially corresponding to the position of said segregating means adapted to agitate said bundle of wires and to co-operate with said segregating means to separate an individual wire from said bundle to insure positive feed of individual wires to said feed drum, the peripheries of said segregating means and said jog wheel moving in the same direction so as to urge a separated wire towards said feed drum means.

2. The device of claim 1 which includes a pair of jog wheels, each of which is positioned so that there is a space between them and so positioned so that the periphery of said segregating means is positioned between said jog wheels.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the driving wheel is journalled on a spring biased arm, said arm being rotatably mounted on the rear wall of said hopper such that said driving wheel is urged into frictional engagement with said feed drum.

4. The device of claim 1 which includes means for positioning said jog wheel and said segregating means so that a space exists between their peripheries which is substantially the same or less than the thickness of said wires.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said positioning means is adjustable.

6. In an automatic wire handling device of the class described which includes hopper means for carrying a bundle of wires, segregating means positioned at the bottom of said hopper for separating individual wires, rotary feed drum means having slots formed therein, whose axes are parallel to the axis of rotation of said feed drum, for carrying individual wires to a terminal attaching position from said segregating means, the improvement which comprises a shaft rotatably mounted on said hopper means having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said rotary feed drum, said shaft having attached thereto at least one jog wheel whose inner periphery extends to a position within said hopper substantially adjacent the periphery of said segregating means the peripheries of said segregating means and said jog wheel moving in the same direction so as to urge individual wires towards said feed drum means and having a space between said periphery of said jog wheel and said segregating means which is equal to or less than the thickness of one of said Wires, and means for driving said shaft means whereby said jog wheels agitate said bundle of wires and co-operate with said segregating means to position said wires for pick-up by said slots in said feed drum.

7. The device of claim 6 which includes a pair of jog wheels carried by said shaft having a space between them, the position of said jog wheels on said shaft being such that the periphery of said segregating means is positioned between said jog wheels.

8. The device of claim 6 including positioning means for providing a space between the periphery of said jog wheel and said segregating means.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein positioning means is adjustable.

10. In an automatic wire handling device which includes hopper means for carrying a bundle of individual wires, segregating means positioned at the bottom of said hopper means, rotary feed drum means for carrying individual wires from said segregating means to a terminal attaching position, the improvement which includes adjustable divided wall means positioned in said hopper means for controlling the length of said wires carried by said hopper, shaft means carried by and rotatably mounted on said hopper means, jog wheel means carried by said shaft for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of said rotary feed drum means and positioned so that the peripheries of said jog wheel means extend into the bottom portion of said hopper means, means for rotating said shaft means in such direction that the peripheries of said segregating means and said jog wheel means move in the same direction so as to urge individual wires towards said feed drum means whereby said jog wheel means are rotated to cause agitation of said bundle of wires and in co-operation with segregating means cause individual wires to be positioned for pick-up by said rotary feed drum means.

11. The device of claim 10 including a pair of jog wheels positioned on said shaft so that a space exists between them, said space occurring at a point substantially opposite the periphery of said segregating means.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein adjustable positioning means are provided whereby the space between said peripheries of said jog wheel means and segregating means may be adjusted so as to be the same as or less than the thickness of one of said wires.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 513,472 1/94 Alexander 221-200 1,099,705 6/14 Kolb 221-201 1,241,864 10/17 Lewis 74209 2,181,318 11/39 Fessenden 74206 2,272,682 2/42 Srodulski 221246 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION ?atent No. 3,206,065 September 14, 1965 Louis A. Netta It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patant requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as :orrected below.

Column 1, line 70, and column 2, line 11, for "job", each occurrence, read jog column 2, line 18, for 'prevent" read present line 60, for "segrating" read segregating column 3, line 53, for "past" read )assed column 5, line 16, after "wherein" insert said column 6, line 7, after "with" insert said line 26, For "221-246" read 221-242 Signed and sealed this 7th day of June 1966.

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est:

NEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER esting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC WIRE HANDLING DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED WHICH INCLUDES HOPPER MEANS FOR CARRYING A BUNDLE OF WIRES, SEGREGATING MEANS POSITIONED AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID HOPPER, A ROTARY DRUM MEANS HAVING SLOTS FORMED THEREIN FOR CARRYING INDIVIDUAL WIRES TO A TERMINAL ATTACHING MEANS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A SHAFT POSITIONED SO AS TO ROTATE ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID FEED DRUM, A DRIVING WHEEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE REAR WALL OF SAID HOPPER AND DRIVEN BY SAID DRUM, A DRIVEN WHEEL CARRIED ON SAID SHAFT AND DRIVEN BY SAID DRIVING WHEEL, AT LEAST ONE JOG WHEEL CARRIED ON SAID SHAFT AT A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY CORRESPONDING TO THE POSITION OF SAID SEGREGATING MEANS ADAPTED TO AGITATE SAID BUNDLE OF WIRES AND CO-OPERATE WITH SAID SEGREGATING MEANS TO SEPARATE AN INDIVIDUAL WIRE FROM SAID BUNDLE TO INSURE POSITIVE FEED OF INDIVIDUAL WIRES TO SAID FEED DRUM, THE PERIPHERIES OF SAID SEGREGATING MEANS AND SAID JOG WHEEL MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION SO AS TO URGE A SEPARATED WIRE TOWARDS SAID FEED DRUM MEANS. 